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So how about simply following the installation instructions and just re-aiming the low beams for the correct cut off to be 21-22" (lowered ride height) or 23-24" (stock ride height) off the ground on a wall at a distance of 20ft for the front of the car?
ACA; Are you listening? Is ACA DOT approved? How about some REAL proof that is industry standard testing ? I highly doubt you're going to get it.
My Dad used to say: Don't believe anything you hear or read and half of what you see
ACA; Are you listening? Is ACA DOT approved? How about some REAL proof that is industry standard testing ? I highly doubt you're going to get it.
My Dad used to say: Don't believe anything you hear or read and half of what you see
The DOT approval is molded into lenses - what, now you want a copy of the letter of compliance to the certification testing procedure? Did you ever happen to get that with the stock headlamps or any aftermarket replacement headlamps with any road vehicle that you have purchase or had repaired in your entire life?
I don't know you from Adam, but do you just like to complain, bitch or whine? You sound worst that my wife - she can't be pleased or be happy with anything. Time to stop arguing with what appears to be an idiot, I don't need others having a hard time telling the difference between to two of us. I am putting my soap box away now.
Dose General Motors continue to use the cheap-*** C5 Chinese headlight on the C7?
Sorta odd to pick a car to drive based on the requirement of being able to see when driving ! There you have it. Corvette C5 plus nighttime equel.. Park it....
The DOT approval is molded into lenses - what, now you want a copy of the letter of compliance to the certification testing procedure? Did you ever happen to get that with the stock headlamps or any aftermarket replacement headlamps with any road vehicle that you have purchase or had repaired in your entire life?
I don't know you from Adam, but do you just like to complain, bitch or whine? You sound worst that my wife - she can't be pleased or be happy with anything. Time to stop arguing with what appears to be an idiot, I don't need others having a hard time telling the difference between to two of us.
All I want is a headlight that provides decent amount of light that is safe and won't blind oncoming cars. I have a Mercedes, Lexus and an Audi that all have quality light that I feel is more than adequate to drive anywhere and yes if you want to all 3 have letters of compliance online and the Mercedes is built in the same time frame as a C5 so if you think I'm "bitching" ?
My reply would be, that's generally what folks like politicians say to divert a constructive conversation when they are in the wrong or denial which is basically the same tact ACA proponents seem to take. I, do respect others opinions even when I disagree or hear partial truths
P.S. I admit to also having soapbox issues. I'm a Pastor
Thanks for sharing
Have a great day
Hary
Dose General Motors continue to use the cheap-*** C5 Chinese headlight on the C7?
Sorta odd to pick a car to drive based on the requirement of being able to see when driving ! There you have it. Corvette C5 plus nighttime equel.. Park it....
If I could of put an actual set of Morimoto designed headlights in my car I would've done that when I bought the car.
For the record, the ACA headlights sold by Sharp Light Innovations ARE DOT approved! Second, I had my headlights aimed by a VA state inspector using the correct equipment to measure EXACTLY where the cutoff is supposed to be. I know for a fact that my light do NOT blind other drivers. The low beams have a very sharp cutoff that hits right at the top of the license plate on most vehicles. However, the lights a fully adjustable. So, if you want the cutoff to be lower on your car, you can position it to be however low you want it to be. I also have a 0% chance of getting a ticket for these lights as they are 100% legal. Why don't you try seeing them for yourself. I think you'll be surprised.
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Also for the record, I agree with you 100% that putting LEDS or HIDs in the stock housing is terrible. That's why the ACAs replace the stock housing, and have lenses that are properly matched to the bulbs being used.
If your referring to calling out people selling or using sub par quality and dangerously blinding oncoming traffic while also using unsubstantiated (DOT approved pattern height ) photos showing tree tops I'll gladly own that.
Build a good replacement and prove they are DOT approved and I'd be happy to buy the best out there. Unfortunately there is none at present
why don t you show us and build a system then, instead of calling out others.
The US OEM C5 domestic headlights are cheap crap. The Euro OEM lights are infinitely better but are hard to find these days. The SharpLight stuff is the best available out there these days.
If you don't like it, don't buy it. Simple, really.
That's what I have. HID lowes with Bi-Xenon LED highs. 4-on harness at the engine bay fuse box allows all the lights, including my HID fogs to be on at the same time. Really lights up the remote, county roads I occasionally drive at night. Purchased from Sharp Light Innovations, aka Radio Flyer.
yeah they’re great until they’re not- the HID’s lasted maybe 2.5 years on mine, then the ballasts go bad & you no longer have regular beams just hi beams. Which - b/c led - never had an issue. Sharplight sent me a retrofit kit for new led projectors to replace the dead ones, but a SERIOUS pita to install, I didn’t install them originally, had a shop do it who had done a few sets of these before.
LED only if you go that route
or…..swap out for led replacements in the stock housing?
This thread isn’t about any specific lighting and ACA’s truly aren’t bad they just aren’t up to A ratings.
I look at it in terms of engineering for functions and performance and yes there are some deficiencies which I pointed out and there are more.
Last edited by Hary Gahtoe; Mar 11, 2023 at 01:38 PM.
I have the HIR 9011 high beams, but can't find the 9011 Silver Stars anywhere. I have the 9012 Silver Stars, and this setup has helped somewhat, but looks funky if you have lows and highs on at same time, which I have, because the dims now look brighter than the highs. I bought the relay and wiring setup to do this.
yeah they’re great until they’re not- the HID’s lasted maybe 2.5 years on mine, then the ballasts go bad & you no longer have regular beams just hi beams. Which - b/c led - never had an issue. Sharplight sent me a retrofit kit for new led projectors to replace the dead ones, but a SERIOUS pita to install, I didn’t install them originally, had a shop do it who had done a few sets of these before.
LED only if you go that route
or…..swap out for led replacements in the stock housing?
It’s all in the guts. The cheap $299 kits on e-Bay are cheap for a reason. I bought upgraded bulbs, ballasts and components in 2012. You can upgrade all of the electronics and still use the projector housings. 11+ years and counting…
Industry standards are shifting from a traditional projector to the concentrated multi LED lighting nicknamed jewel style LED. It's compact light and not as prone to failure or focus problems.
The last headlight I made used Morimoto D2 drivers with a non fluted glass lens. It had a crisp, sharp cutoff pattern that was SAE correct but was heavy and was originally prone to losing focus and slight jitter that took several modifications to fix
Starting from scratch has the advantage of not compensating for pre existing conditions so building a back mounting plate can give stronger, better anchor points so the lights will be less likely to shake over sharp bumps
Last edited by Hary Gahtoe; Mar 11, 2023 at 08:58 PM.
I have the HIR 9011 high beams, but can't find the 9011 Silver Stars anywhere. I have the 9012 Silver Stars, and this setup has helped somewhat, but looks funky if you have lows and highs on at same time, which I have, because the dims now look brighter than the highs. I bought the relay and wiring setup to do this.
Sadly,Candlepower out ior Rockville, MD are apparently no longer in business - that's where I got al my HIR bulbs in the past. And my high power back up bulbs. It looks like Daniel Stern Lighting are still in business, so try them for HIR bulbs- www.danielsternlighting.com/
I have the HIR 9011 high beams, but can't find the 9011 Silver Stars anywhere. I have the 9012 Silver Stars, and this setup has helped somewhat, but looks funky if you have lows and highs on at same time, which I have, because the dims now look brighter than the highs. I bought the relay and wiring setup to do this.
Yes, I just bought some 9011's and 12's from Daniel Stern a few weeks ago. Its a little brighter and probably for me, good enough. Don't do much night driving.
I got the hir vosla brand 9012 on ebay, work great and they were 27$ for pair. No out of focus glare (I mean, no worse than old bulb in that #%^< GM lens) no blue tinge light, good upgrade for the price. No black top on bulb but I stand in front of car with one of each and can't see one lick of difference.
Sure I would like to buy ACA led upgrade but for $700 and I hardly ever drive this car at night anyway, it big fat lol at that price.
John 4:1-6
